(Amsterdam, 5th October, 2017) – On World Teachers’ Day Aflatoun International calls for more investment in teachers to celebrate the profession. Teachers contribute to good education and play a crucial role in the development of children and young people to realise their full potential.
World Teachers’ Day is not just an occasion to shine a light on teachers, but also to take a closer look at education. Do our children learn the right skills to make progress in life and later find a job in a fast-moving employment market?
The last ten years we have come a long way and worldwide more children go to school than ever before, but the tragedy is that many quit early. These children who drop out of school miss the social and financial skills they need to get along and get ahead in life.
In order to avoid that many young people will stay jobless at home, which is happening throughout the world, we have to invest in teachers and education that will improve the self-reliance of children and young people. Because one thing is for sure: good education is essential to create a sustainable future.
Lessons which contain social and financial education can strengthen the independence of pupils, as it allows them to improve their position in society. Aflatoun’s programmes offer teachers the tools so children can learn about themselves, their rights and responsibilities, how to save and how to begin a start-up. Aflatoun International helps millions of children to gain the knowledge and skills for a better future by investing in teachers.
The organisation gives worldwide trainings for teachers so they can offer education programmes which empower children to make positive change to their lives and communities. 70.000 teachers have been trained to deliver the Aflatoun method, in more than 100 countries. Some teachers focus on the most vulnerable children and potential drop-outs, others offer special classes for young refugees and some link it to a sustainable entrepreneur project in order to generate income for their twin class in Ethiopia. “Teachers play an essential role in preparing tomorrow’s generation and, therefore, need to be trained to teach children the right skills using 21st century teaching styles,” said Aflatoun International CEO Roeland Monasch. “By investing in teachers we can make sure that young people will enter the job market with the right set of skills.”
Research shows that Aflatoun’s educational programmes have a positive impact on the self-confidence and self–reliance of children to set and reach their goals in life. The innovative method helps them prepare for a complex and turbulent world.
